A YOUNG woman’s creative bid to curb motorists’ speeds passing through her village has earned her a police unsung road safety hero award for 2021.

Erin Langdale, 20, set up a road safety group in Middlestone last year following concerns drivers do not slow down on the B6287 through the village, between Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor.

Among their first initiatives was to buy a family of mannequins which were dressed by village children to look realistic.

Placed prominently around the village, the dolls make drivers aware children play in the area, urging them to slow to the 30mph speed limit.

The group also staged a poster competition and run Facebook and WhatsApp groups to share ideas and to lobby Durham County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.

As part of Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit’s Operation Brake, a road safety week led by the charity Brake, Miss Langdale has been named a police road safety “hero”.

The 20-year-old letting agent was presented with her certificate of recognition by Roads Policing Inspector, Kevin Salter, and Ms Allen, in the village.

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